Electric snap-switch.



'PATBNTED MAY 9, 1905.

M. GUETT. ELEGTRIG SNAP SWITCH.

APPLIGATIOH FILED HOV. 16. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 789,865. PATENTED MAY 9, 190 5. M. GUETT.

ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH.

APPLIOATION TILED NOV. 16. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Manse; I war/entoa )pdz 730% 7%W No. i89,365.

MONROE GUETT, OF HARTFORD,

Patented May 9, 1905.

CONNEC'IYICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HART 8:

HEG-EMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTI- CUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SNAP-SWITCH...

SPECIFICATION fornling' part of Letters Patent No. 789,365, dated May 9, 1905, Application filed November 16,1903. Serial No. 181,280.

I 0 to whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that l, MONROE Crun'r'r, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Snap- Switches, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention is intended to provide certain features of novelty and advantage in the construction and operation of electric snapswitches; and it is' iiarticularly adapted for, use in pendent switches.

In the aceom 'ianying drawings the invention is shown as embodied in a pendent switch.

Figure 1 is an elevation view of the device with the inclosing casing in section. Fig. 2 is a side view of the device with the inclosing casing removed. Fig. 3 is a detail front elevation of the operative parts of the switch, showing the relation which the various parts bear to one another during the actual movement of the operating-levers. Fig. 4t is-a view similar to Fig. 3,showing the relative positions of the parts when the operating mechanism is released. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of the arm m. Fig. 6 is a plan and edge view of the detent-plate. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the construction of the oscillating member g and its connections.

In the drawings, (1/ denotes the inclosing casing for the operating mechanism. This cas ing supports the base 7) of insulating material.

0 is a spindle mounted on the base, and (Z (Z are the contacts which cooperate with the blades on the switch-plate.

a is the switch-plate, rotatably mounted on the spindle. It is provided with stops f f.

g is an oscillating member mounted on the spindle 0 above the switch-plate a and having a forward driving connection with said switchplate through the spring-detents 5 which are carried by said oscillating member.

Posts 72/ it are mounted on the base-plated, which is secured to the insulating-base 7).

7:1 is a lever pivotally mounted on the post it. on is an arm pivotally mounted on the post 71/, said lever and arm having oppositelyarranged projections which are engaged by the ends of the spring-m, which encircles the post 72 so that if one of the parts, as thelever l2, moves while the other part, as the arm m, is stationary the spring m will be compressed, as shown in Fig. 3.

a is a plate pivotally supported on the post 71/ and provided with a linger 0, which is adapted to enter the space between the stops The plate n has a slot 1). which for a part of its length is concentric with the post 7 and at its end has a sharp cam-surface 7).

The lever 7 is extended beyond the post 72/ and carries a pin k, which moves in the slot 2) p.

The arm at is connected with the oscillating member by suitable means, as the gear-teeth m g and carries a pawl projection "mi which cooperates with the stop 7" to determine the amount of movement of the switch-plate at each throw.

The operation of the device is as follows, Fig. 1 showing what may be considered the normal position of the actuating parts, it being the position to which the parts return under the influence of a suitable spring a when the levers Z: in are released. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the linger 0 is in engagement with one of the stops f on the switchplate and that the pin 7;" is in the part of the slot 3) in the plate /2 which is concentric with the post 71,. As pressure is placed on the levers 7n moving them toward one another, the spring m is gradually compressed and the pin Z1 travels in the slot 7) and up the camsurface 1), drawing the finger u out of engagement with stop f. Fig. 3 shows the position of the parts just before the finger 0 is disengaged from the stop f. Further movement of the levers Z Z toward one another causes the pin 7: to ride still farther up the cam-surface of the slot p and draws the finger 0 out of engagement with the stop Instantly the spring m exerts the force which has been stored up in it to bring the arm m back to its normal relation with respect to the lever l, as shown in Fig. 4.. The arm on, through the mterengagmg teeth m" 9, im-

parts motion to the oscillating member 9, which in turn, through the spring-detents 5 carries with it the switch-plate (a. The pawl projection in is carried into the path of movement of the stopsf'and determines the amount of throw of the switch-plate. Fig. 4c illustrates the relative position of the parts after the switch-plate has been thrown, but before the pressure is relieved on the levers 7.11 A suitable spring s is provided, which is compressed when the levers are brought together and tends to return the parts to the normal position shown in Fig. 1. As shown in the drawings, the switch-plate moves quarter of a revolution at each operation of the levers. hen the levers are released, the linger 0 immediately enters the space between the stops ff, which are secured to the switch-plate, and so prevents any bacluvard movement of the switch-plate which might be caused by the spring-detents g on the oscillating member 9 dragging over it during the return motion of the oscillating member.

It will be seen that the switch is operated entirely by the lever A, the lever 71? being independent of the plate a and being provided merely as a convenience for the operation of the switch. As shown, it is pivoted on the post it.

The advantages of this construction, particularly for use in pendent switches, will be apparent to those who are familiar with the manner of use of such devices. As these pendent switches are now constructed the circuit is made by forcing the contacts together by main strength through the medium of a button in the bottom of the shell. This necessitates the grasping of the entire body of the switch and getting a proper purchase, so that the contacts may be forced together. The breaking of the circuit is accomplished by the manipulation of a second button on a different part of the inclosing shell. The herein-described switch when used as a pendent switch overcomes all objections to devices of this class heretofore made and provides a device which is simple in construction and easy and effective in its operation.

I am aware that the construction is susceptible of alterations and modilications to suit special requirements, and I wish to include herein and in the following claims any and all such modifications as come within the scope of my invention as it is defined by the prior art.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an electric snap-switch of the rotary type the stationary and movable contacts, the lever, and mechanism interposed between said movable contacts and said lever separate from but having drivingconnection with the former and connected with the latter by a spring, means for holding said mechanism against movement during the initial movement of said lever whereby said spring is made effective to actuate said mechanism and the movable contacts, and a spring to return said mechanism and lover to their normal position.

52. In an electric switch the stationary con tacts and the rotatable switch-plate, the operating-lever, and mechanism interposed between said switch-plate and said lever, said mechanism being separate from but having a driving connection with the switch-plate and connected with the lever by a spring, and means for holding said mechanism against movement during the initial movement of said lever whereby said spring is made effective to actuate said mechanism and rotate the switchplate, substantially as described.

3. In an electric switch the combination with the stationary and movable contacts, of actuating mechanism for the latter, said mechanism comprising an operating-lever, an arm, and a spring connecting said lever with said arm, said arm being separate from but having a driving connection with said movable contacts.

l. In an electric snap-switch of the rotary type, the stationary and movable contacts, and actuating mechanism for the latter, said mechanism comprising a lever, an arm, and a spring forming the sole means for connecting said lever and arm, an oscillating member connected with said arm, a forward driving connection between said oscillating member and the movable contact adapted to be disengaged during the return movement of said oscillating member and means for returning the parts of said actuating mechanism to normal position, substantially as described.

5. In an electric snap-switch, the stationary and movable contacts and actuating mechanism therefor, said mechanism comprising a lever; a spring-actuated arm controlled by said lever and connected to an oscillating member by suitable means; said oscillating member, and forward driving connections between it and said movable contact; means for holding said arm stationary during the initial movement of the lever; means for releasing said arm; and a spring to return the parts to their normal positions.

6. In an electric snap-switch the combination with the stationary and movable contacts, of mechanism for actuating the movable contact; said mechanism comprising a lever; an arm connected thereto by a spring and to an oscillating member by suitable means; said oscillating member, and connections between it and said movable contact; means for holding said arm stationary during the initial movement of the lever, means for releasing said arm, and a spring to return the parts to their normal positions.

7. In an electric snap-switch the combination with the stationary and movable contact, of mechanism for actuating the movable contact; said mechanism comprising a lever; an arm connected thereto by a spring and to an oscillating member by suitable means; said ITS oscillating member; and connections between it and said movable contact; means for holding said arm stationary during the initial movement of the lever; means for releasing said. arm; a stop to limit the movementol the switch part; and a spring to return the parts to their normal position.

8. In combination in an electric snap-switch, the insulating-base provided with a spindle, and stationary contacts; a rotatable switchplate mounted on said spindle and adapted for movement in one direction only; an oscillating member mounted on said spindle, and connections between said oscillating member and the switch-plate during the movement of the oscillating member in one direction; leverop erated mechanism for actuating said oscillating member; and a stop to limit the movement of the switclrplate, substantially as described.

9. .In an electric snap-switch the combination with the stationary contacts and the rotatable switch-plate; of mechanism for actuating said switch-plate; said mechanism comprising a lever; an arm connected thereto by a spring and to an oscillating member by suitable means; said oscillating member and forward driving connections between it and said switch-plate; means for normally holding the switch-plate against movement; means for releasing the switclrplatc; and a stop to limit the movement of the switch-plate, substantially as described.

10. In an electric snap-switch the combination with the stationary contacts and a rotatable switch-plate, of mechanism for actuating said switch-plate; said mechanism comprising a lever; an oscillating member having a forward driving connection with the switch-plate; an arm connecting the lever with the oscillating member, said arm being connected to the lever through a spring; a plate engaging stops on the switch-plate to normally hold it against rotation, said plate having a cam-shaped slot, a pin carried by said lever and moving in said slot to release said switch-plate, and a stop carried by the arm and adapted to limit the movement of the switch-plate.

11. In an electric snap-switch in combination the insulating-base; the stationary contacts mounted thereon; a spindle supported by the base; a switch-plate rotatabl y mounted on the spindle and adapted for cooperation with said contacts; an oscillating member hav ing spring-detents which engage the switchplate for forward movement; stops on the switch-plate; a pivoted plate having a finger normally engaging said stops, said plate being slotted to receive a pin carried by a lever; said lever, and said pin adapted to disengage said plate from the stop; an arm connected with said lever through a spring and to said oscillating member; and a pawl carried by said arm and adapted to limit the movement of the switch-plate, substantially as described.

12. In an electric snap-switch in combination the insulating-base; contacts thereon; the spindle; the switch-plate rotatably mounted on the spindle; the oscillating member having spring-detents to engage the switch-plate for forward movement; stops on said switchplate; a catch-plate having a linger to 000perate with said stops, and a cam-slot to receive a pin; a lever having a pin moving in said cam slot; an arm connected to said lever through a spring and to said oscillating member by interengaging teeth; and a pawl on said arm adapted for cooperation with said stops, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MONROE GUETT lVitnesses:

H. E. IIART, D. S. KREIMENDAIIL. 

